Hilton Head Monthly Voice Voice of the Lowcountry 
Over the next 30 days, the Town of Bluffton will waive fees for permits to make structural repairs for damage sustained to properties from Hurricane Matthew. During this 30-day period, the Town will not be accepting new single family or commercial permits unless a special circumstance is warranted.
“We want residents affected by the storm to have first priority when it comes to fixing their home,” said Town Manager Marc Orlando.
The Town of Bluffton, to assist residents with the Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts, is placing industrial-sized dumpsters at three sites for disposal of storm debris:
Dumpsters will be available Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 and will only be in place for a limited time. Residents are reminded that these dumpsters are to be used for storm debris only which includes tree branches, limbs, twigs, trunks and other debris from plants and trees.
The town of Bluffton and its Historic Preservation Commission recently congratulated the partners involved in completing the first phase of renovating the historic Graves House. Located at 85 Calhoun St., this century-old house has been moved 16 feet and stabilized by placing it on a new foundation, making way for further rehabilitations and future uses.
Bluffton Buddy, an app for smartphones and tablets that portrays the people, places and traditions that make Bluffton the heart of the Lowcountry, is now available for free download in the App Store for Apple iOS devices and Google Play for Androids.
The town of Bluffton’s Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2017-18 is now available via the town’s website, townofbluffton.sc.gov. The 34-page, two-year strategic plan establishes the framework for guiding policy and financial decisions. The plan is also a flexible tool, helping Blufton Town Council align town resources with strategic priorities to best benefit the residents and business owners of Bluffton. The action plan is divided into six strategic focus areas: May River and surrounding rivers and watersheds, town organization, economic growth, fiscal sustainability, community quality of life and infrastructure.
Bluffton has been recognized by the Municipal Association of South Carolina for outstanding management of growth while implementing plans to keep the historic Old Town area a charming community center. The municipal association credited the town’s long-term strategic planning as an example of successful planning.
Cornerstone Church in Bluffton has reached an agreement with the town to allow public parking in the church parking lot adjacent to Calhoun Street. Parking will be accessible every day, with the exception of Sundays between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., the annual Bluffton Village Festival, and the Christmas at Cornerstone Festival. This will make an additional 55 parking places available to the public.
Bluffton leaders are working to update the town code to include a more comprehensive set of rules and regulations for public docks and boat ramps. Current town code only refers to the “Bluffton dock,” though there are now three within the town limits, and does not address ramps or piers at all. The new rules will address safety concerns as well as make sure that the docks are not being monopolized by commercial users.
Locals who are playing Pokémon Go, the latest version of the Pokémon franchise in the form of a smartphone app, can head to the Bluffton library to train their Pokémon and battle with other players. The Bluffton library has embraced its status as a Pokémon “gym” and has created a display area announcing what team is currently in control of the gym. Ryan Easterbrooks, the librarr’s director of children’s programs, plans to keep the excitement going with a Pokémon club in the fall. Coligny Plaza and Bluffton’s Old Town are also popular local destinations for players.
Tanger Outlets Hilton Head is offering shuttle service between its two shopping centers in Bluffton. The service will continue through Aug. 31. The shuttle runs daily from noon to 4 p.m., departing Tanger 1 every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour, and Tanger 2 on the :15 and :45. The shuttle stops at Tanger 1 will be behind Shopper Services and across from Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th by the gazebo. The shuttle stops at Tanger 2 will be behind Shopper Services and at the crosswalk by Kilwin’s Chocolates & Ice Cream and the Salty Dog Restaurant.
